Monday, January 10, 2011

It's my birfday

And my first present, though he didn't know it was, Kindros posted THIS on his blog in honor of Wash, my love of all Firefly loves.

It's Sunday night, and I was sure I had a post all ready to go. Until I checked, just to make sure. Womp Womp. I didn't.

But that's okay because it IS my birthday.

 (Lord_Voldemort7 declared Sunday Snapes birthday. So, I thought this was fitting to borrow.) 


AND my mom took me to a movie that fits into writing. Unfortunately.

My desire to review movies is equal to my desire to review books.(very low) Those of you that are here that review either or, I tip my stylish, always appropriate hat to you. It's difficult.

And I'm not doing it now either. But we did see a movie that opened my eyes to how becoming a better writer can taint things. It sounds like a good thing but it really boils down to having your eyes opened to something that was never a problem. In other words: poorly written movies.

I always loved most all movies. Even bad ones. I credit that to not knowing why it's bad. I used to not be able to pinpoint what made a bad movie. If you don't know WHY something isn't very good it's always easier to forgive.

But, after that movie, I realized I understood where they went wrong(flat characters, lacking real motivation, things just happened because they needed the story to go there not because it was the natural direction, dialogue fizzzzzzzle, etc.) That has me both sad and proud.

They had a great story. REALLY interesting IMO. I was so excited to see what they did with it. But then...they took a great idea and ran it into the ground! FAST.

Big names, awesome story premise. And then it was like watching a dude fall who's parachute didn't open. (which I have seen. He was, miraculously, okay btw.) You just had to cringe. Groan. Sigh. Then laugh because there was just nothing else you could do. (we didn't laugh at the skydiver who crashed down in front of us)

I have no point here except to warn all aspiring authors to be prepared for a change in vision when it comes to books and movies as your skill grows.

Oh well. I still can't say I hated it. My soft spot for bad movies has not hardened at least, no matter what crime they committed against a good plot.

I didn't make it to anyone this weekend! Which really bummed me out! My internet was so screwed up at the house the whole time. Again.

I'm ready to switch providers over it. It happens too often...But no matter, it started back up fine on
Sunday so I'm less moody. And excited to read up on you all!

Hope you all have a great day back! It snowed like a mother last night! I love to look at it but I hate driving in it. It is SO SCARY! But I know everywhere else has had much worse snow lately than what we got here so I have no room to complain I suppose.

Happy Monday!

45 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Colene!!! Hope it's a great one.

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  2. Happy Birthday!

    See, this is just like what I was talking about the other day with having my reading altered because of what I learned. Sometimes I can still get past it...but it IS weird when you catch yourself thinking things like "why didn't they make mention of this earlier so it doesn't feel so forced and thrown-in now?"

    And yes, I'm still grieving for the loss of the great things I expected from Hilary Duff in her story. :o(

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  3. Well, happy birthday to you! I actually reviewed a book today--ha ha! So what was the movie?

    Have a great one~

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  4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Joyeux Anniversaire! I think poor writing can be overlooked if the story keeps us in the game. Meyer and LJ Smith are hardly up there with shakespear but their stories drew me in. However, if the writing isn't there, the characters are unbelievable and the story 'just happens' (think Hush Hush), I can't do it. I might have back when I was 13 and clueless but not anymore.

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  5. Happy Birthday! LOVE the Snape graphic, LOL!

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  6. Happy birthday! I hope you and Snape celebrate it up :) And I want to know what this movie is now so I can avoid it!

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  7. Happy Birthday, Colene,

    I hope you have the BEST day! Do something fun to commemorate it!

    It is true what you say, we do see things differently as we take our craft further. I now see it all the time in books especially. When something isn't as well written as it can be, I furrow my brows and think, "It would read so much better if ...

    Have a fantastic day!

    Michael

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  8. Happy Birthday. I'm with you on reviewing things, mostly because I suck at it. Very curious as to what movie your talking about.

    Also Firefly totally rocks and it's my number one show that was canceled too soon.

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  9. Happy Birthday. I hope you get all your wishes fulfilled (whatever that is).

    Since I'm a polite man, I will not ask how old you are today >:D

    Cold As Heaven

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  10. Happy Birthday!!! Have a lovely snowy day.

    I find myself having all kinds of issues with suspending my disbelief and getting lost in stories these days--both in movies and books. I expect so much more. I think knowing how things should go kinda ruins the magic in some cases.

    Now I really want to know which movie you saw!

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  11. Happy birthday, Colene!! Enjoy the snow :)

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  12. Happy birthday!
    And I'm really movie-savvy, so a bad movie with bad plot/dialogue/etc. really stands out.

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  13. Woooooooooo! Happy happy birthday! For me, there's nothing worse than cheesy dialogue in a film. Makes me roll my eyes every time!

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  14. Happy birfy-birfday to my wonderful Crit Partner!

    So jealous you got more snow than us. We got just a dusting. I guess we're supposed to get more later.

    I SO feel ya on realizing what makes a movie bomb can be the writing. Now I'm starting to read books with that critical eye I never used to have.

    Have a WONDERFUL day today! Go make a snowman and put a party hat on him :)

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  15. Happy Birthday, Colene! Here is a coffee toast (because that's what I'm drinking) to a great day and the start of a fantastic year!

    You raised a good point: the further we develop our craft, the more critical our eyes become. I struggle to sit down and enjoy a novel these days; reading for pleasure has vanished from my life. I'm always critquing something. I guess it helps with growth???

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  16. Happy Happy Birthday!! Hope it's an awesome day!

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  17. i can't read a book now without critiquing it! drives me insane! i keep wondering how on earth the author got an agent and the book got published. all the bad writing makes me want to jab my eyes with firepokers!!

    oh - and happy birthday! party hard!

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  18. Happy Birthday. I love the pictures, especially the fox. LOL

    You're right, when we have learned what not to do, we then wonder why so and so got away with it. It spoils the movie, book, etc.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  19. Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Colene, Happy Birthday to you! Yeah (sound of popping corks, cheers and clapping) :O)

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  20. Happy Birthday! Hope it's your best one yet!

    (Now I want to know what movie you're talking about...)

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  21. Happy Birthday! your second photo is priceless!

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  22. Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great one. :)

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  23. Happy Birthday, Colene! May this be your BEST year yet! :-) And I'm dying to know what that movie was...

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  24. Happy Birthday! I hope you have an awesome one and eat some cake for me. :)

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  25. Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful day and eat lots of cake. :)

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  26. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! *toots horn* My son's 6th bday is tomorrow. :)

    So what movie was it??? I'm curious to know. I love reviewing films also, but I'm much tougher on them than books.

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  27. Happy birthday and drive carefully! christy

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  28. Happy birthday! I hope it's an awesome one!

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  29. Thanks so much everyone!! It has been a wonderfully relaxing day! And mums the word on the movie. I really don't want to taint it for anyone interested in seeing it!

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  30. I'm pretty sure you're still young enough to enjoy birthdays, so Happy Birthday, Colene!! (I don't have them anymore, btw)

    Not liking something you really wanted to like is hard. :( Instead, spend some money on something you shouldn't like but really, really do. (I have no idea if that helps. But it should.)
    erica

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  31. Happy Birthday Colene! I hope you have (had) a fabulous day! You deserve it! :)

    Ohhh man.. I hate the snow too :( Like you, I love looking at it, but hate driving in it, or getting cold and wet in it... or... okay.. my list could go on and on... :D

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  32. Happy Birthday Colene! I hope you've had an awesome day.

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  33. Happy Birthday, Colene!

    I know exactly what you're talking about with the movies (and books). The more I learn and grow as a writer, the more I'm able to identify flaws in other works (or worse yet - hone my ability to give a play by play on the plot). Oh well...I'm an eternal optimist - at least we're growing and getting better. =)

    I hope you have a fantastic day!

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  34. That's probably why I don't see many movies. Somehow I'm worse during a movie than when I read books.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

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  35. Aw! I missed your birthday yesterday! Well, I'll make it up to you today! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Colene. I hope all your wishes come true!

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  36. Sorry I missed your birthday, Colene! I hope it was FABULOUS!

    I CLEARLY remember the first movie where I so easily spotted exactly what they'd done wrong... it was strange. And it is so much harder to just give in and enjoy... Takes a really flawless book (though movies I am only slightly more picky on)

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  37. I'm a day late, but Happy Birthday!! I hope you had a wonderful day. :)

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  38. Happy Belated Born Day! Hope it was a great one. I'm glad you liked the tribute.

    That firefox picture is amazing. Saved for later. :)

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  39. I'm with you 100%. Writing has ruined my movie-going experience. And my husband's, too, so he informs me. But it's not a bad trade-off, imo.

    Becca @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  40. Happy Belated Birthday! I'm sorry I missed it yesterday! Hope your day was fantastic.

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